Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the appointment of Thurman Thomas to the New York State Tourism Advisory Council and recommended that he fill the position of Vice Chair.
"I am pleased to welcome Thurman Thomas, a New Yorker known by sports fans all around the world, to the New York State Tourism Advisory Council," Governor Cuomo said. "For more than a decade, Mr. Thomas represented Buffalo on the football field and was part of the Bills team that went to the Super Bowl four times in a row. He has shown a commitment to the Empire State both on and off the field. Now Mr. Thomas will be using his experience to help make Upstate New York a premier destination for visitors from around the globe and continue to grow our tourism industry."
Thomas led the Buffalo Bills football team to four straight Super Bowl appearances in the 1990s and holds the franchise's rushing record. He began and ended his illustrious career as a Bill and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007. He lives in Buffalo and is a founder of Legends Energy Group.
"I am honored that Governor Cuomo has appointed me to The Tourism Advisory Council," Thomas said. "I know how important it is to the Governor that Buffalo and Western New York receive the proper representation and promotion. I look forward to making that happen."
"The Tourism Advisory Council is thrilled to welcome Thurman Thomas and work with him as we continue to build tourism with exciting events like the Super Bowl next month," said Cristyne L. Nicholas, Chairman of the Tourism Advisory Council. "I Love New York will seek guidance and benefit from Thurman's leadership to continue to attract major sporting events like the very successful PGA Championship the State hosted in Rochester this past summer, as well as the upcoming Empire State Games."
The New York State Tourism Advisory Council was established in 1984 to advise the Governor and provide input regarding the State's tourism efforts. The membership of the council includes representatives from tourism-related industries including travel and vacation businesses, convention bureaus, cultural institutions, theme parks and attractions, hotels and motels, restaurants, water-based recreation businesses, campgrounds, ski facilities, wineries, halls of fame, travel agents and transportation companies. Members serve for terms of two years and are unpaid.
